Sony Xperia Z3 review

The Sony Xperia Z3 currently has an Informr score of 8.6 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 50
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Water resistant

Bright HD screen

Blazing performance

PS4 Remote Play

Long battery life

What's bad

Camera Auto mode is hit or miss

Limited US Availability

Sony bloatware and interface tweaks

Speaker distortion at high levels

Hot on the heels of the Z2, Sony is taking another shot at the top of the flagship Android charts with the tweaked and optimized Z3. Reviews are starting to roll in and things are looking good for this one. How good? Let’s get into the details.

The design of the Z3 sticks to the Xperia aesthetic in most ways. Sharp lines, flat sides and flush buttons with little else. The Z3 adds the addition of nylon corners to help add a little resilience to the glass and aluminum design. Stuff magazine said the changes makes the Z3 “feel less like a big, heavy block of a tech and more like a standard premium flagship.”

Most reviews noted that the Z3 was more comfortable to hold than previous Xperia devices but edges were still very much noticeable in the hand. Forbes says, “expect the Z3 to be a touch more robust than the Z2.”

The phone is both IP65 and 68 certified for dustproofing and waterproofing to make sure its ready to go with you on your next adventure or survive the torture of little hands if you have children. Reviews that tested it said everything worked fine, just be sure to have the covers for the various ports firmly closed.

With a quad-core 2.5GHz processor, 3GB of RAM and a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the specs on the phone are certainly impressive. Forbes notes that this is “the very top end of the current specs for an Android smartphone.”Stuff put the phone through its paces, including gaming and heavy multitasking and found that “As for performance, it's flawless.”

The powerful specs of the phone are paired with a 3,100-mAh battery which Sony claims will allow up to two days of use on a single charge. While reviews didn’t quite hit the two-day mark, most agreed that you should have no problem getting through the day. Stuff commented that phone features “the best battery life of any smartphone we've seen in a long time.”

For those constantly on the go, Sony has beefed up the screen brightness compared to other models. TechRadar points out, “the 5.2 display is brighter than ever before, perhaps more than anything on the market, with 600 nits of brightness.”

If you’re looking for a phone that will rival many point and shoot cameras, the 25mm lens and 20.7MP camera on the phone received rave reviews from most sources. However, to get the most from the camera, prepare to get comfortable with menus and settings as many reviews pointed out that the auto function, while effective, didn’t work well in fast action or low light conditions.

Other features include DCEE HX Audio--a feature that claims to breathe life into low-quality audio--and PS4 Remote Play functionality. Remote Play will allow PS4 owners to stream games to their phone via Wi-Fi and play using DualShock 4 controllers. While this sounds like heaven to gamers, the feature doesn’t officially roll out until late-2014 so reviews couldn’t assess how well it really works.

Overall, reviews are extremely positive despite the device being released so soon after the Z2. Forbes says there is “little to complain about in the package.” TechRadar applauds the device say its “the best phone that Sony's ever made... and it's better than I expected.”

What the Critics Are Saying...

The Sony Xperia Z3 is beautifully designed, with a fantastic high-resolution camera and great battery life; it's a really difficult device to find fault with. You might not be a fan of Sony's Xperia user-interface, or the fiddly SD-Card/charge port flaps, but the minor flaws pale in comparison to th...

- Loie Favre, AndroidPIT

Sony might not have high hopes for its mobile future, but the company has made a winner in the Xperia Z3. The design is sophisticated, the camera is great, and battery life is excellent. Is it worth an upgrade from the Z2? Probably not—you should wait and see what Sony has next. But the Z3 has...

- Brandon Russell, TechnoBuffalo

The Sony Xperia Z3v is an impressive Android smartphone and it is about time Verizon offers a flagship smartphone from Sony. It is hard to find things not to like on this very capable smartphone. Before you walk in and upgrade from your old iPhone to the iPhone 6, or jump from one Samsung smartphone...

- Josh Smith, GottaBeMobile

The Z3v is the first Sony flagship to hit Verizon. If you’ve been waiting for such a day, we’re happy to say it was worth the wait. It’s a decent looking phone that has industry leading dust and waterproof abilities. It also happens to take great photos and has crazy long battery l...

- Mike Norris, BitBitByte

The Xperia Z3 is a classic Sony smartphone. It follows the company’s signature design aesthetic and doesn’t break the mold in any way.If you’re a Sony fan and you want an Xperia, this is a fantastic choice and is in league with a number of incredible flagship phones, including the...

If your Xperia Z3 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Rate It:

Critic Reviews

Unbeatable battery

The Sony Xperia Z3 is beautifully designed, with a fantastic high-resolution camera and great battery life; it's a really difficult device to find fault with. You might not be a fan of Sony's Xperia user-interface, or the fiddly SD-Card/charge port flaps, but the minor flaws pale in comparison to the myriad positives....

The Sony Xperia Z3 is beautifully designed, with a fantastic high-resolution camera and great battery life; it's a really difficult device to find fault with. You might not be a fan of Sony's Xperia user-interface, or the fiddly SD-Card/charge port flaps, but the minor flaws pale in comparison to the myriad positives.

For US$400 the Xperia Z3 presents outstanding value and its stellar battery life is going to get even better once the device gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow in the near future. It might be lacking some of the more current Android features such as wireless charging and fingerprint scanning, but for us, it still ranks as one of the best Android phones in the world.

A well-rounded flagship that's definitely worth your time and money.

Sony might not have high hopes for its mobile future, but the company has made a winner in the Xperia Z3. The design is sophisticated, the camera is great, and battery life is excellent. Is it worth an upgrade from the Z2? Probably not—you should wait and see what Sony has next. But the Z3 has earned its place among today’s most popular flagships. You’d be missing out to skip the Z3 outright...

Sony might not have high hopes for its mobile future, but the company has made a winner in the Xperia Z3. The design is sophisticated, the camera is great, and battery life is excellent. Is it worth an upgrade from the Z2? Probably not—you should wait and see what Sony has next. But the Z3 has earned its place among today’s most popular flagships. You’d be missing out to skip the Z3 outright.

Of course, the fact that it’s only available through T-Mobile in the U.S. isn’t helping its fortunes all that much. Sony has found the American market a tough nut to crack, and with devices like the Note 4, iPhone 6, Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on the market (all of which are available through multiple carriers), it’s going to be hard for the Z3 to find a proper audience. But what you do get is a rugged, well-rounded device that has an endless battery.

Stunning display, incredibly capable camera and the ability to play PS4 games

The Sony Xperia Z3v is an impressive Android smartphone and it is about time Verizon offers a flagship smartphone from Sony. It is hard to find things not to like on this very capable smartphone. Before you walk in and upgrade from your old iPhone to the iPhone 6, or jump from one Samsung smartphone to another, you need to go hands on with the Sony Xperia Z3v...

The Sony Xperia Z3v is an impressive Android smartphone and it is about time Verizon offers a flagship smartphone from Sony. It is hard to find things not to like on this very capable smartphone. Before you walk in and upgrade from your old iPhone to the iPhone 6, or jump from one Samsung smartphone to another, you need to go hands on with the Sony Xperia Z3v.

With a stellar camera, great software features, the ability to play the PS4 games and the option to buy for as low as a penny on Amazon this is a smartphone you need to try before you buy any other device on Verizon.

A flagship device with a good camera and great battery life

The Z3v is the first Sony flagship to hit Verizon. If you’ve been waiting for such a day, we’re happy to say it was worth the wait. It’s a decent looking phone that has industry leading dust and waterproof abilities. It also happens to take great photos and has crazy long batter...More

The Z3v is the first Sony flagship to hit Verizon. If you’ve been waiting for such a day, we’re happy to say it was worth the wait. It’s a decent looking phone that has industry leading dust and waterproof abilities. It also happens to take great photos and has crazy long battery life. The only cons we can really think of (**see below for more) are more subjective and minor and revolve around stock vs skinned Android and some hardware design choices (such as the all-glass back and ridiculous microUSB port placement). All in all, the Z3v would be a great phone by itself. In context, on Verizon’s network, it’s hands down one of their best devices currently available.

An amazing phone that measures up with the best Android has to offer

The Xperia Z3 is a classic Sony smartphone. It follows the company’s signature design aesthetic and doesn’t break the mold in any way.

If you’re a Sony fan and you want an Xperia, this is a fantastic choice and is in league with a number of incredible flagship phones, including the LG G3, Samsung Galaxy S5, and the HTC One M8, which are all out for the same price or less, depending on your carrier...

The Xperia Z3 is a classic Sony smartphone. It follows the company’s signature design aesthetic and doesn’t break the mold in any way.

If you’re a Sony fan and you want an Xperia, this is a fantastic choice and is in league with a number of incredible flagship phones, including the LG G3, Samsung Galaxy S5, and the HTC One M8, which are all out for the same price or less, depending on your carrier.

Sony’s Xperia Z3 doesn’t have brag-worthy features, but it is another monster handset in a sea of fantastic phones this year.

The future, wrapped up in the past

When you get down to it, there are four things that most people want in a phone: a relatively fast processor, a good-looking display that you can see while outdoors, a great camera, and excellent battery life. In some form or another, most people's ideal phone will nail all four of those. While it might be slicker than a can of grease, the Sony Xperia Z3 is as close to an ideal phone as you can find on the market today...

When you get down to it, there are four things that most people want in a phone: a relatively fast processor, a good-looking display that you can see while outdoors, a great camera, and excellent battery life. In some form or another, most people's ideal phone will nail all four of those. While it might be slicker than a can of grease, the Sony Xperia Z3 is as close to an ideal phone as you can find on the market today.

Ever have something hanging over your head for a couple of days? Something you were worried about that just wouldn't leave the back of your mind? That's how I felt when I went from using the Sony Z3 back to my regular phone. Every trip near the sink, every walk through a rainstorm, every day away from a power outlet felt like a day I'd rather have had the Sony.

Once you adapt to a waterproof, dustproof phone with a battery that just won't quit, it's hard to go back. It's not that my personal phone isn't durable, or that it'll melt if it gets a little wet, but it's just one more thing to worry about. The Sony Z3 isn't perfect, of course; there are more powerful phones, it's currently only available on T-Mobile (The Verizon-only Z3V is closer to the Z2 than this phone), and it's only a matter of time before something bigger and better knocks it off its perch.

But this is a phone that's built to stand the test of time better than most of its competitors. Its battery life is absolutely flooring, its camera is currently the best you'll find on a mobile, and its features are seemingly endless. In a year most flagship phones will feel dated, with degraded batteries that barely last a day with light usage.

In a year or two, the Sony Z3 should still be a great device. It'll still have a long-lasting battery, it'll still have a decent camera, it'll still be waterproof if you take care of it, and it'll still pull off neat party tricks like streaming PS4 games from your console. It's a phone built for the long haul, in more ways than one.

A tempting, premium Android handset

There's no doubt in my mind that the Xperia Z3 is Sony's best chance to win over American consumers. It's a solid device through-and-through. It's well designed, well made, and has a great mix of features that should appeal to media-minded users.

The screen is great, the battery life is very good, but I thought signal and voice performance could be stronger. The hardware is, otherwise, top notch. Not every phone can claim to be waterproof and that definitely helps the Z3 sit apart from the crowd. Some potential buyers may not like the sealed-in battery, but I don't mind it...

There's no doubt in my mind that the Xperia Z3 is Sony's best chance to win over American consumers. It's a solid device through-and-through. It's well designed, well made, and has a great mix of features that should appeal to media-minded users.

The screen is great, the battery life is very good, but I thought signal and voice performance could be stronger. The hardware is, otherwise, top notch. Not every phone can claim to be waterproof and that definitely helps the Z3 sit apart from the crowd. Some potential buyers may not like the sealed-in battery, but I don't mind it.

The Android KitKat operating system provides a solid framework and familiar apps for managing communications. Sony's UI skin isn't overly heavy-handed and leaves the device with plenty of room for customization. Many of Sony's apps, such as the Walkman, Gallery, and Video Player, surpass those created by Google. Toss in the Z3's compatibility with the PS4, and you have a compelling Sony story.

Sony stepped up the performance of other core features. The camera impresses and the Snapdragon processor breathes fire at every turn. T-Mobile made its own mark, too, with solid additions such as WiFi Calling.

If you're invested in the PlayStation and other Sony services, the Z3 is a no-brainer. If you're not, it's still a competitive Android smartphone that offers a little something different. Those with an eye for high-end smartphones would do well to consider the Sony Xperia Z3. It's Sony's best yet.

Wonderfully bright screen, epic battery life and even PS4 integration for avid gamers

The Z3 is Sony's best smartphone yet, and it stacks up well against other Android flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S5. For my money, it's the one I'd buy. The 1920 x 1080p display is sharp and bright, and photo fanatics will love the superdetailed 20.7-MP camera and dedicated shutter button....More

The Z3 is Sony's best smartphone yet, and it stacks up well against other Android flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S5. For my money, it's the one I'd buy. The 1920 x 1080p display is sharp and bright, and photo fanatics will love the superdetailed 20.7-MP camera and dedicated shutter button. T-Mobile adds a cherry on top, with battery life that lasts longer than the Energizer Bunny. While it doesn't have the massive screen of a Galaxy Note 4, or the fingerprint reader in an iPhone 6 Plus, Sony's sleek smartphone is worth some serious consideration, doubly so for PS4 owners looking to liberate their console from the constraints of wires.

Waterproof, very good battery life, and can link to PS4 gaming console via home Wi-Fi

The Sony Xperia Z3v is the best Sony Android smartphone that Verizon sells…. Actually it’s the only Sony Smartphone that Verizon carries right now. This phone has some good things going for it like Qi wireless charging capability, 21MP camera, dedicated camera shutter button, PS4 Rem...More

The Sony Xperia Z3v is the best Sony Android smartphone that Verizon sells…. Actually it’s the only Sony Smartphone that Verizon carries right now. This phone has some good things going for it like Qi wireless charging capability, 21MP camera, dedicated camera shutter button, PS4 Remote Play gaming, micro SD card slot and waterproof design. It does everything all the other current Android smartphones can do, but where it falls a little short is in the physical design. It just looks and feels too chunky to me and it also feels every so slightly less snappy compared to the Motorola DROID TURBO. Should you buy one? I guess it just comes down to if you like the look of this phone and the feature set better than the rest of the phones available from Verizon. For me, I found myself missing my sleeker LG G3 the whole time I was using this phone, so that tells you where I stand.

Fragile and clumsy to hold - Screen crack resulted

I suppose phones have gotten too big to handle comfortably recently. I thought I would like this, but it is clumsy to hold. So much so, that I have dropped it several times from a height of 2-3 feet. This rarely happens with other phones I have, such as the Lumia 1020 and the Moto X 2013. The last d...More

I suppose phones have gotten too big to handle comfortably recently. I thought I would like this, but it is clumsy to hold. So much so, that I have dropped it several times from a height of 2-3 feet. This rarely happens with other phones I have, such as the Lumia 1020 and the Moto X 2013. The last drop was fatal to the screen, it cracked once and is now inoperable. I will be seeking warranty replacement for the screen.
Other than that, i think this is a great phone. Powerful and fast. Waterproof. Photos are decent, if not as spectacular as on the Lumia 1020. I am thinking of getting a Moto X 2014 to replace this now. The curved back is much more ergonomic for a large phone.
This is not a good phone for kids to play around with, unless you get a really great protective case, like an Incipio or Speck. When I get the phone fixed, I will order a decent case before I use it again. As of this moment, there aren't any available.
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